I started suddenly, and almost ran toward home.
Directly I heard a light step following me.
“This is unkind, cruel!” said Irving, pleading; “let me help you?”
The pride of my heart was subdued; I relaxed the speed with which I had moved, and listened with a thrill of grateful pleasure.
“You smile—your color comes back, thanks!” he said, gaily.
I could not answer. The sweet sensations that overwhelmed me were too exquisite for words.
“You will not speak to me,” said Irving, stooping forward to look in my face.
My eyes met his, I felt the lids drooping over them, and, spite of myself, began to tremble with delicious joy. Like a cup full of honey, my heart overflowed with sighs, but I could neither speak nor look him in the face. Did he understand it all? Did he read in my face all that was making a heaven in my heart? All I know is, that he grew silent like myself, and we moved on together through the soft atmosphere like two young creatures in a dream. At length some obstacle arose in our path. I know not how it was, but we paused and looked at each other. My eyes did not droop then, but were fascinated by the deep, earnest tenderness that filled his. I met that gaze, and kept it forever in my soul, the most solemn and beautiful memory ever known to it.
“Zana, do you love me?”
The question fell upon my ear like a whisper of expected music. I had listened for it with hushed breath, for with the soft atmosphere of love all around me, it came naturally as lightning in a summer cloud. I think he repeated the question twice before the joy at my heart sprang with a deep, delicious breath to my lips.